News Tannery Workers Union calls for new minimum wage


The Bangladesh Tannery Workers Union (TWU) has called for the declaration of a minimum wage of Tk25,000 for tannery sector workers, according to reports in the Bangladeshi media.


The proposal is based on the Anker Methodology, which ensures that the wage recommendation is realistic and aligned with global standards. The wage recommendation is also supported by several national and international frameworks.


The TWU call comes almost a year after the first meeting of the minimum wage board and a subsequent lack of progress in setting a new minimum wage for tannery workers. It was reported that the TWU expressed


concern over the delay in announcement of a new wage structure, “attributing it to the negligence of tannery industry owners”. They said the delay was detrimental to the industry’s stability and welfare and exacerbated the poor financial conditions faced by tannery workers. Many workers are in debt, struggling with rising living costs, and are unable to afford basic necessities such as food, shelter, and medical treatment. The TWU general secretary Abdul Malek revealed that the current minimum wage set in 2018 was Tk13,500, which increased by 5% annually, reaching Tk17,548 in 2024. Any negotiation below this amount would be against the law.


Dr. Martens shoe brand releases Ambassador collection


Shoe brand Dr. Martens has unveiled the Ambassador Leather collection, which reinterprets some of its products by making them with premium, supple, tumbled leather. Famed for their toughness, the boots now offer a softer, more comfortable fit. The Original Dr. Martens 1460 boot, that’s been around since 1960, is remixed in soft, textured finish. The eight-eye boot is now crafted with lightly oiled, durable leather that the company says “gets better with age”. The boot also features the company’s trademark yellow welt stitching and black and yellow heel loop. The upper is 100% leather, the inner is 60% leather and 40% textile, and the


renowned bouncing sole forms the foundation of the boot is 100% PVC. Manufactured since the 1970s, the 2976 Chelsea boot has received the same Ambassador treatment. In this case, the upper is 70% leather and 30% textile, the inner is 60% leather and 40% textile, and the sole is once again 100% PVC.


Both shoes are available in both black and cashew colourways. Dr. Martens has created Ambassador Leather versions of other products, including the Josef Leather Buckle Sandal Slides, the Adrian Yellow Stitch Loafers, the 8065 Mary Janes, the 101 Ankle Boots, and the 1461 Oxford Shoes.


Leather boosts Hermès half-year financial results


French luxury design house Hermès has reported that its consolidated revenue in the first half of 2024 amounted to €7.5bn, up 15% at constant exchange rates and 12% at current exchange rates compared to the same period in 2023. Recurring operating income was €3.1bn (42% of sales) and net profit (group share) reached €2.4bn (32% of sales). In the second quarter, sales reached €3.7bn, up 13% at constant exchange rates. Leather goods and saddlery was up by 19%, thanks to the increase in production capacities and particularly sustained demand, the company said. The collections have been


Leather International / www.leathermag.com


enriched with new formats, including the Della Cavalleria Élan and the Kelly Mini clouté bags in particular. The increase in production capacities continues with the opening of the Riom (Puy-de-Dôme) leather goods production site in September 2024 and the laying of the first stone for two new leather goods production sites: Isle- d’Espagnac (Charente) in April and Loupes (Gironde) in May, which will open in 2025 and 2026 respectively.


Axel Dumas, executive chairman of Hermès, said: “The solid first-half results… reflect the strength of Hermès’ model.”


The announcement of the TWU figure follows the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) think tank recommended a monthly wage of Tk22,776 ($194.66) earlier in the year. The CPD said its proposal for the 2024 minimum wage was grounded in a “comprehensive analysis of various factors such as food costs, non-food expenses, family size, and the number of income earners”. A CPD survey of tannery workers revealed that a worker’s food and non-food expenses stood at a combined Tk33,478 per month. Its proposals emerged at a media


briefing titled Determination of New Minimum Wage of Tannery Industry: Challenges of Implementation?


Stahl launches upgraded EleGrade portfolio of leather


finishing solutions Stahl, a leading provider of speciality coatings and treatments for flexible substrates, has extended its EleGrade portfolio of high-end leather upgrading solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets.


Leather upgrading solutions are key to maximising the quality and yield of a hide, which is especially relevant against a backdrop of evolving market conditions and raw material availability. According to Stahl, EleGrade offers leather producers a combination of quality, yield, value, aesthetics and performance. “The newly upgraded formulation uses state-of-the-art microcapsule technology and yields reduced yellowing effects thanks to its improved heat stability,” it said. Part of the Stahl Neo collection, the


portfolio includes Aquabase, for high to medium leather upgrading, Melio Ground for medium upgrading, and Mirage for fine to medium upgrading. Each range can be tailored to a particular specification or market requirement, from upholstery to classic shoes, high-fashion articles and more.


Stahl said its products are designed to offer “premium performance with a lower environmental footprint”, in line with its purpose ‘Touching lives, for a better world’. This can be seen in the sustainable credentials of its leather processing products, such as compliance with the requirements of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC-MRSL).


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